Brazil Fines TikTok Owner Nearly $30 Million Over Children’s Data Safeguarding
Brazil’s data protection regulator has fined ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, more than 153 million reais, nearly $30 million, over alleged failures to safeguard the personal data of children and teenagers.
The regulator said in its ruling that TikTok breached Brazil’s data privacy laws through the collection and processing of young users’ personal information without a valid legal basis or adequate safeguards.
The alleged breaches affected both users with registered accounts and people accessing the platform as guests, according to the regulator.
From a child safeguarding perspective, the decision highlights concerns about how social media platforms collect, process and retain information belonging to children and teenagers.
The regulator has ordered TikTok to delete data it considers to have been gathered illegally and directed the company to submit a plan aimed at strengthening safeguards for younger users.
ByteDance has 10 days to appeal the decision. The company had not immediately commented on the ruling.
The action comes as governments and regulators in several countries increase scrutiny of how digital platforms protect children online. Brazil has also taken other steps to address potential risks affecting young internet users.
Earlier in August, the country’s data protection regulator recommended suspending live broadcasts on Discord after the platform was linked to a suicide case.
Brazil’s government and Supreme Court have also pursued measures aimed at regulating minors’ use of the internet, although efforts have produced mixed results.
The latest fine places greater attention on children’s digital privacy, particularly the need for platforms to limit unnecessary data collection and establish stronger safeguards for younger users.
For child-focused safeguarding efforts, protecting children online involves more than controlling what they see. It also requires ensuring that their personal information is collected lawfully, handled responsibly and protected from misuse.
